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A ttracting to your Backyard–
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tips for reptile-friendly landscaping and gardening
Why is snake-friendly gardening important?
Did you know?
N
ative forest habitats in southern British Columbia are under pressure from
human activities. Little remains of the original coastal Douglas-fir
ecosystems that once covered southeastern Vancouver Island and the
Gulf Islands. This area is home to a number of rare species, including the
Endangered Sharp-tailed Snake. Fortunately, these snakes can coexist with
humans in low-density urban areas, as long as suitable habitat features
remain. Snake-friendly gardening can help this species to survive in
your area.
Adopting snake-friendly gardening practices can make your
backyard a better place for native plants and wildlife, and may result in
a more productive garden with fewer garden pests. Measures taken to
attract and protect Sharp-tailed Snakes and their habitats contribute to a
broader goal of conserving our native ecosystems and biodiversity.
The Sharp-tailed
Snake is endangered
in Canada.
ADU
LT SHARP-TAILED SNAK
Did you know?
All our local snakes, such as the
Northwestern Garter Snake, are
harmless to humans.
NO
RTHW
E
E
What reptiles can I expect to attract to my garden?
All our local snakes are harmless and pose no threat to humans. Four species of
snakes inhabit Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands: the Sharp-tailed Snake
and three species of garter snakes (Western Terrestrial Garter Snake,
Common Garter Snake, and Northwestern Garter Snake). Two lizards
occur in the area: the native Northern Alligator Lizard, and the non-native
Wall Lizard (which has been introduced to the Victoria area and appears to be
spreading).
The Sharp-tailed Snake is a small (less than 35 centimetres long),
reddish brown, slender snake about the thickness of a pencil. The
tail is tipped with a thorn-like spike, giving the species its
common name. This secretive snake is rarely found out in the
open away from shelter. In Canada the Sharp-tailed Snake
occurs on Pender, Saltspring, and Galiano islands, and on the
southern tip of Vancouver Island. However, even if you are
located outside of these “hotspots”, snake-friendly gardening
is still worthwhile, as new localities for the Sharp-tailed Snake
may be discovered, and you are likely to attract garter snakes,
which also eat slugs and are beneficial in the garden.
E
NAK
STERN GARTER S
What can I do?
1. Provide hiding places
Snakes require shelter from their many predators such as hawks and crows that are
quick to make a meal of them. Suitable hiding places may consist of rocks or decaying
logs, brush piles, or patches of dense shrub or herbaceous vegetation.
One of the simplest ways to provide shelter for snakes is to leave natural coverobjects — fallen logs, bark, and rocks — in place. You can also leave areas of
uncut vegetation in an orchard or in a perennial border. Using hedges to
divide the property into different areas enhances its appearance and
provides hiding places and travel corridors for snakes and other small
wildlife.
You can also construct special structures for snakes. These can range
from simple rock and brush piles to elaborate rock walls. Dry-stack rock
walls (built without mortar) are particularly suitable, because the crevices and
cracks between rocks provide abundant and varied hiding places for snakes and
lizards. If you decide to start with rock or brush piles, make sure that the piles are
stable and relatively large (about one metre wide at the base). Careful placement of
these structures is also important: locate them adjacent to borders, hedges, or a
compost heap.
2. Provide warm sites
Did you know?
Adding hiding places is
an excellent way to
attract snakes.
Did you know?
South-facing rocky slopes
provide egg-laying and
nursery sites for the Sharptailed Snake.
Snakes and lizards derive most of their body heat from the environment and therefore
require suitable warm “sunning” areas. Raising the body temperature helps these
reptiles digest their food and assimilate energy. The availability of warm sites is
particularly important for females when they are producing eggs or young. In contrast
to garter snakes that give birth to live young, the Sharp-tailed Snake
lays eggs.
If you are fortunate enough to have a rocky hillside or a
knoll that receives sun for at least a part of the day, make
sure to protect it and restrict foot-traffic in that area.
Prevent erosion by restricting activities immediately
upslope, as soil and silt can fill the cracks between
rocks. Keeping such slopes free of Scotch Broom and
other invasive plants that will shade them is also
beneficial. Adding rocks of varying sizes to the base of an
exposed hillside is one way to improve habitat for snakes, and
placing new rock walls and rock piles on south-facing slopes or where
they receive sun is another.
In the garden, snakes may take advantage of warm conditions under black plastic
sheets that are used to control weeds on vegetable or flowerbeds. You can provide
warm sites just for snakes by placing sheets of tin or black asphalt roofing in sunny
locations — about 60 x 60 centimetres (2 x 2 feet) sheets work well. These covers are
more durable than plastic sheets and last for many years. If these covers are used,
however, take special care to place them in low-traffic locations to avoid injury to the
animals sheltering underneath.
3. Provide a pesticide-free environment
Chemical pesticides and herbicides can harm wildlife either directly or by
contaminating their food supply. Chemical slug bait containing metaldehyde is
hazardous not only to wildlife but also to children and family pets. Whenever
possible, use alternative methods to chemical pesticides to control garden pests
Encouraging snakes to inhabit your garden is a natural way to control slugs. In
particular, the Sharp-tailed Snake and the Northwestern Garter Snake are voracious
feeders on slugs. Depending on the magnitude of your slug problem, you might
need to use a combination of control measures. Effective measures include trapping, hand-picking, and use of barriers. Frequent cultivation of the soil and using a
drip-irrigation rather than a sprinkler system will also help reduce the slug population
in your garden.
Did you know?
Our local snakes
consume large numbers
of slugs, including exotic
garden pests.
4. Tread gently
You can reduce the accidental death of snakes, lizards, and other small
animals by taking a few simple precautions. When moving rocks or
repairing old rock walls, be aware that these cover objects may have
become home to animals — take special care to avoid accidentally
crushing animals that might be sheltering there. When mowing tall
grass, first walk through or stir the area, so that any concealed snakes
have a chance to move out of harm’s way. Similarly, when using a
weed-eater, first stir the area with a stick to alert snakes to your
presence — they will quickly slither away.
5. Encourage and protect native vegetation and habitats
SH
ARP
When creating wildlife habitat, imitate patterns found in nature. Replace straight
lines with irregular patterns and avoid large monocultures of single plants. Large
“tidied up” areas and weed-free gardens provide poor habitat for snakes and other
small wildlife. Sometimes natural patterns may initially look unstructured, but you
will soon grow accustomed to viewing the landscape with snakes and other wild
creatures in mind.
Instead of imported ornamentals, use native shrubs and herbs. In the Gulf
Islands, plants that occur in habitats occupied by the Sharp-tailed Snake include
salal, ocean spray, Nootka rose, and western trumpet honeysuckle. Because native
plants are adapted to local conditions, they usually require less maintenance and
attention than fancy imports. Several local nurseries provide a wide selection of
native plants and can help get you started.
One of the best ways to protect wildlife habitat is to leave some of your property
in its natural state. Even small patches of natural areas can be effective as habitat
both for small animals such as reptiles and for native plants. Conservation covenants
provide a way for landowners to ensure long-term protection of special habitats on
their properties. Many local conservation organizations and land trusts provide
assistance with setting up such stewardship agreements. Tax credits or other
incentives are often available for landowners that engage in stewardship agreements or donate land for conservation.
6. Enhance access to habitats
Natural landscapes are a mosaic of interconnected habitats, providing a variety of
conditions for wildlife. Reduce the distance between habitat patches for easy access
to animals. Snakes are more likely to use the structures you have provided, such as
rock walls or brush piles, if they are not isolated in the middle of large open areas.
Efforts to maintain and restore wildlife habitat on your property reduce
fragmentation of the landscape and create habitat networks in your area. What you
do on your property, however small, can make a difference.
-TAIL
E D S N A K E A N D A RI O
NS
LU
G
Did you know?
The human population of
the southern Gulf Islands is
predicted to increase by 50%
over the next 30 years.
Did you know?
If you want to ensure
that a part of your
property remains in its
natural state, consider a
conservation covenant.
How do I know if landscaping is working?
You are likely to see more garter snakes (and probably be startled by their quick
movements) in your yard and garden, or you may see them using the structures
and habitat patches you have provided. And perhaps by midsummer, your
lettuce won’t have so many slug holes in them!
In contrast to garter snakes, Sharp-tailed Snakes are secretive, and any
effects will be more difficult to notice. If you reside in a potential area for this
species and are interested in working with biologists to find out the best
ways to restore habitat for these snakes, please contact us.
JU V
E N I LE
A
SHARP-TAILED SN
KE
Did you know?
Where can I get more information?
Snake identification
Gregory, P. T., and Campbell, W. 1984. The Reptiles of British Columbia. British Columbia
Provincial Museum Handbook 44.
St. John, A. 2002. Reptiles of the Northwest. California to Alaska, Rockies to the Coast. Lone
Pine Publishing, Edmonton, Alberta.
Storm, R. M., and Leonard, W. P (coordinating editors). 1995. Reptiles of Washington and
Oregon. Seattle Audubon Society, Seattle, Washington.
Habitat restoration, management, and stewardship
Many uncertainties remain
about the best way to
restore habitat for the
endangered Sharp-tailed
Snake. Your help is essential,
and we would like to work
with you.
Backyard Habitat for Canada’s Wildlife. Canadian Wildlife Federation (http://www.cwffcf.org/pages/product.htm)
Habitat Management Guidelines for Amphibians and Reptiles of the Midwest. The Center for
Reptile and Amphibian Conservation and Management.
(http://herpcenter.ipfw.edu/index.htm?http://herpcenter.ipfw.edu/outreach/
MWHabitatGuide/&2)
Link, Russell. 1999. Landscaping for Wildlife in the Pacific Northwest. University of
Washington Press, Seattle, Washington.
Naturescape British Columbia: http://www.hctf.ca/nature.htm Phone 1-800-387-9853 ext. 5
Penn, B. 1996. Stewardship Options for Private Landowners in British Columbia. Stewardship
Series. Government of Canada and Province of British Columbia. (available on the
Stewardship Centre web site)
Stewardship Centre: http://www.stewardshipcentre.bc.ca
Pest management
Habitat Stewardship Program
University of California Pest Management Guidelines. Snails and Slugs. 1999. (http://
www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7427.html)
Washington State University Cooperative Extension Program: Hortsense. Home gardener fact
sheets for managing plant problems with IPM or Integrated Pest Management. http://
pep.wsu.edu/hortsense/
Gardening with native plants
Native Plant Society of British Columbia: http://www.npsbc.org
Pettinger, A. with B. Costanzo. (2002, revised edition) Native Plants in the Coastal Garden.
Whitecap Books, Vancouver, BC.
Pojar, J. and A. MacKinnon, editors. 1994. Plants of Coastal British Columbia. Lone Pine
Publishing, Edmonton, Alberta.
Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection
Text and photographs Kristiina Ovaska and Christian Engelstoft
with the assistance of the Sharp-tailed Snake RecoveryTeam
Photo on page 3 Bill Leonard
Contact [email protected]
October 2003